Protector for use in boxing.



G. 0. BREWSTER.

PROTECTOR FOR USE IN BOXING. APPLICATION FILED MAR. e, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

GUY OTIS BREWSTER, 0F DOVER, NEW JERSEY.

PROTECTOR FOR USE IN BOXING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8,1912.

Application filed March 6, 1912. Serial No. 681,919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY OTIS BREWSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dover, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Protectors for Use in Boxing, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to protecting devices for use in boxing, and is designed as an improvement upon the protector shown, described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,004,737, granted October 3rd, 1911.

The object of the invention is to provide'a protector for use in boxing which is simple in construction and eflicient in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protector for use in boxing which is composed of two principal parts, one being a head part and the other a body part, these two parts being suitably connect-ed together to permit of relative flexible movement, so as to render the movements of the head and body of the user free in the use of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction of devices of this nature, and to render the same more economical to manufacture and lighter and more comfortable for the wearer.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,--Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a construction of protector for use in boxing and constructed 1n accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a broken detail view showing one form of connection between the head part and the body part of the protector, and embodying the prlnciples of my invention. Fig. 5 is a broken view in section on the line 5, 5, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a 'view similar to Fig. 5, on the line 6, 6, Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In my prior patent referred to, I have shown, described and claimed a construction of protector for use in boxing embodying a shield adapted to cover the head, face, shoulders, chest and abdomen of the user, but the body of which is offset from'the body of the user by means of cushions or elastic pads interposed between the body of the wearer and the opposed inner surface of the protector, the cushion pads being located at such points as to accomplish the desired results and to take up and absorb the shock of blows delivered against the exterior surface of the protector.

The present invention relates to a construction of device of the nature and class referred to, but embodies certain details of improvement thereover tending to render the protector more adaptable for convenient use and to facilitate the use thereof and the free movement of the user of the device.

In its essential characteristics my present invention comprises a protector for use in boxing including two portions, namely, a head portion and a body portion, these two portions being suitably connected together for relative movement by a hinged, universal or other suitable form of connection. I also propose, in accordance with my present invention, to make the head portion and also the body portion out of a suitable wire netting similar to that employed in connection with masks or guards commonly employed for the game of base ball. Also in connection with my present invention I propose to provide means for suitably clamping the head portion of the protector to the head of the wearer so as to facilitate the free movement of the head of the wearer without deranging the relation of the head portion of the protector with reference to the wearers head.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10, designates the head portion and 11, the body portion of the protector. Both the head part 10, and the body part 11, is formed of a strong heavy wire netting carried by suitable stiff though sufliciently resilient edge or frame wires 19.. These edge frame wires 12, should be of sufficient size and strength to afford sufficient rigidity to the body and head portions to hold the same in proper shape. The

head portion 10, is provided or formed with side portions which extend alongside the side of the head on each side to afford protection against the possibility of injury by I a blow being delivered thereagainst.

Similarly, the body portion 11, is provided with sides which fit'around the sides of the body of the wearer and afford protection at that point from injury. A suflicient space, indicated at 13, is left between the rear edges of the head and the body portions to accommodate the arms of the wearer freely there- I through, thereby leaving the arms of the user entirely free. The head portion 10, is provided on the inner surface thereof withl a suitable pad 14, designed to fit over the top of the head of the wearer as well as. around the forehead and along the sides of, the head, as clearly indicated in Figs. 2, and j 3, thereb offsetting the body of the head; portion rom the head of the wearer, and? preventing the possibility of injury to thei side of the head or the face of the weareri by blows delivered against the exterior surface of the head portion of the protector:

Similarly, the body portion 11, is provided;

on the inside thereof with pads 15, 16, re-i spectively bearing against the chest and ab-f domen of the wearer and thereby offsetting the body portion of the protector from thej body of the wearer, and hence relieving the. body of the wearer from danger of injuryl due to blows delivered upon the protectorfii The several pads 14, 15, 16, serve to absorbi the shock of a blow delivered against the? protector thereby protecting the wearer ort user from danger of injury.

In use the protector may be attached ort secured to the wearer in any suitable or convenient manner. As one form of means for this purpose I have shown the sides of the head piece provided with straps 17, at their 3, rear edges, adapted to be buckled together and around the back of the head of the user. Similarly, the body part 11, of the protector is provided with straps 18, respectively se-z cured to the rear edges of the side portions of the body part, and adapted to be buckled together around the body of the wearer. In the use of protectors of the character and nature of my invention, it is exceedingly important that the head portion be retained rigidly in position on the head of the wearer without danger of displacement while the 1 user is in action. To accomplish this result I provide the head part with straps 19, 20. The strap 19, being designed to engage around the back of the head while the strap v 20, is designed to be engaged underneath the chin of the wearer. With such an arrangement as this the head piece is held. firmly in place on the head of the wearer, while at the same time danger is avoided of displacing the same during any movement of the head, during use, or by reason of the delivery of blows on the head. By retaining the pad portion 14, on the inner surface of the head part of the protector rigidly against the forehead and sides of the head and in bearing contact therewith at all times, by reason of the straps 19, 20, engaging as above explained, the danger of injury to the head of the wearer or to the face or forehead or side of the face is entirely relieved and avoided.

In the use of devices of the "nature and character referred to, it is exceedingly important that the head of the wearer be permitted free movement in 'all directions. It is only when the various muscles of the body are brought into active use that the utility of boxing as an art of health is most beneficial. Therefore, to be thoroughly effective,

the head portion of the protector should be suitably connected or coupled to the body portion thereof to permit the relative movement: thereof in any desired direction, thereby making the head of the wearer entirely free for movement when in action as the user mlght desire. To accompllsh this result I propose to provide a hinged connection between the head part 10, and the body A part 11, of the protector. Any suitable or convenient construction of hinged connection which will permit the desired'flexibility or relative movement of the head portion and body portion will answer the purpose.

While, therefore, I have shown, and will now describe one construction of a pivotal connection between these parts, I do not desire to be limited in respect to the details thereof.

In the construction shown in Figs. L, 51

the frame wire 12, of the head portion of the protector. I also connect the two hinge plates 21, 22, by means of a pivot pin 23, as clearly indicated. If desired, and in order to secure relative rocking motion of the head part wit-h reference to the body part in a direction or on an axis at right angles to the axis of pivot pin 28, the hinge plate 22, may be hinged or connected loosely to the frame member 12, of the head portion of the protector, to permit the latter to swing about the hinge axis of the wire connection 12, at the point where it is engaged by the hinge plate 22. By the foregoing construction it will be seen that the head portion 10, of the protector is capable of free movement in any desired direction, relative to the body portion 11, of the protector, thereby enabling the wearer or the head of the wearer to move freely in any desired direction while the protector is in use. 7

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful, and of my own invention,

and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a boxing protector composed of a body part and a head part, respectively adapted to cover the shoulders, chest, abdomen, head and face of the user, and having cushion pads inter: posed between the inner surfaces thereof at the body and head of the user, to receive and distribute the force of impact of blows delivered thereto, means for securing the body part around the body of the user, means for securing the head portion around the head of the user, and means for flexibly connecting the head and body portions.

2. As a new article of manufacture, aboxing protector composed of a body part and a head part, said body part and head part made of wire netting and suitably hinged together, cushion pads interposed between the inner surfaces of said head and body part and the head and body of the wearer, and means for securing the head and body parts of the protector around the wearer.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a boxing protector comprising a head portion and a body portion hinged together, the head portion having a chin strap to engage underneath the chin of the wearer and a back head strap to engage around the head of the wearer and having a cushion to bear against the forehead of the wearer to offset the same from the face of the wearer, and a body part having cushion pads interposed between the inner surface thereof and the surface of the body of the wearer, and means for securing the body part around the body of the wearer.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a boxing protector composed of a head part and a body part, cushion pads interposed upon the inner surfaces of both said head and body parts and operating to offset the same from the body of the wearer, means for suitably coupling the head and body parts of the protector around the head and body, respectively, of the user, said head and body parts being hinged together to permit of free relative movement of the head part with reference to the body part.

5. As a new article of manufacture, aprotector for use in boxing comprising a head part and a body part, suitably connected together for relative movement of the two, cushion pads interposed between the inner surfaces of both of said parts and the head and body respectively to offset said parts from contact with the head and body respectively of the user, and a space intermediate the rear edges of said head and body parts to accommodate the arms of the user.

(5. As a new article of manufacture, a protector for use in boxing comprising a head part and a body part, each composed of wire netting, cushion pads arranged on the inner surfaces of said body and head parts, means for coupling the head and body parts, respectively, around the head and body of the user, and cushion pads arranged on the inner surfaces of said head and body parts to 0dset the same from the body of the user.

7 As a new article of manufacture, a protector for use in boxing comprising a head part and a body part, each comprising a flexible frame having side extensions extending respectively alongside the sides of the face or head, and body of the user, and each having cushion pads on the inner surfaces thereof operating to offset the same from the head and body, respectively, of the wearer, and means for securing said head and body portions to the body of thewearer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses, on this 29th day of February GUY OTIS BREWSTER. lVitnesses:

FRANCIS H. TIPPETT, EDWIN BORLASE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

